Student leaders from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy’s Pharm.D. program gathered in Gainesville on Feb. 3 for the Student Organization Annual Retreat, or SOAR. This year’s theme was “Soar to New Heights,” and featured eight session speakers covering topics of interest to students, including effective leadership, interview strategies, managing money and strategies in time management. UF College of Pharmacy Dean Peter W. Swaan, Ph.D., M.Pharm., delivered the keynote address titled, “A Cut Above Everest,” as he applied some of his mountain climbing adventures to attaining success in pharmacy.

SOAR is a student-led conference focused on developing leadership and professional communication skills as well as establishing meaningful connections through the Pharm.D. program. This year’s event was hosted by the Gainesville campus and attracted more than 200 attendees from all three UF College of Pharmacy campuses. As an outreach project, attendees were encouraged to support the Alan and Cathy Hitchcock Field and Fork Pantry, which provides food and pantry items to those in the UF community in need of assistance.